Federal prosecutors have dropped charges against a Texas surgeon accused of unlawfully obtaining and sharing private medical information related to gender-transition treatments for minors at Texas Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Eithan Haim, who was indicted last May in U.S. District Court in Houston, faced allegations of obtaining personal medical information under false pretenses. He had accessed the hospital's records database in 2023, claiming he needed the information for "adult care services," despite having not worked there for two years.
Dr. Haim disclosed the health information of minors who had received transition-related services to conservative activist Christopher Rufo, who subsequently published an article asserting that the hospital continued providing transgender care to minors despite announcing its cessation.
At 34, Dr. Haim, who acknowledged sharing the records, maintained his innocence, arguing that he acted as a whistleblower and had redacted identifiable patient information. Prosecutors did not explain their decision to drop the charges, which left Dr. Haim relieved and surprised.
Texas Children’s Hospital stated it would respect the prosecutors' decision. Advocacy group Equality Texas criticized the dismissal as an attack on transgender rights, highlighting the state's recent laws targeting transgender individuals, including bans on transgender athletes in sports.
Research shows that anti-trans legislation correlates with increased suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth. Johnathan Gooch from Equality Texas expressed concern over the erosion of trust between the LGBTQ community and healthcare providers, viewing the Justice Department's actions as an endorsement of anti-trans vigilantism.
In a broader context, the issue of gender-transition treatment for minors remains divisive across the U.S., with states like Tennessee considering similar bans. Texas has enacted prohibitions on puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and surgeries for those under 18, with severe penalties for violations.
Dr. Haim justified his decision to leak private records, asserting that he believed the hospital's practices were harmful to children. He noted that when he first learned of his colleagues' treatment of transgender youth, such care was legal, but subsequent political actions led to significant changes in Texas's approach to gender-transition care.
Despite Dr. Haim's perspective, the American Academy of Pediatrics argues that such treatments can be essential for addressing gender dysphoria. The organization is currently reviewing existing data to update its guidelines on transgender care.
Following Dr. Haim's indictment, several Republican politicians expressed interest in the case, with Senator Ted Cruz questioning the potential political motivations behind the prosecution. Dr. Haim described the charges being dropped as “a miracle,” noting that a conviction could have resulted in a ten-year prison sentence.